Remember...as distance decreases, danger increases

Officers must continually be reminded that their proximity to the bad guy is paramount to their survival. Too frequently officers let their guard down when making the “final approach” to handcuff and search the suspect when that is the time they need to be most alert in a confrontation. It is as if a giant magnet is drawing the officer closer to the suspect so he can consummate the arrest.

If a suspect produces a firearm and there is considerable distance between the officer and the suspect, the officer might choose to draw his/her weapon, seek cover if it is available, issue verbal commands from behind cover and/or engage the suspect with gunfire if applicable.

If the same situation arises and the suspect is inside the officers "reactionary gap"--which is the minimum amount of space needed to ensure that you can properly react to whatever threat may be presented by a suspect--the officer might have to engage the suspect physically in an attempt to control the suspects hands and/or the weapon instead of even attempting to draw his/her weapon.